Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-06-18


waited few minutes, as he always came
into my room at night after he had been
out, and his strange departure from the
theatre made me more certain that he
would be in at once. But when he did
not come, concluded to go and find the
reason of it all. As stood in front of
his window ON the balcony, several
shadows moved across the curtain. There
was something so unusual in this that
hesitated moment, and then knocked
lightly on the window pane. No one APP
peared to hear. There was the sound of
deep voices and heavy steps within. |
raped harder.
..Wait a minute!" called strange
voice. And soon the curtain was drawn
and the window raised.
The sight which met my eyes made me
gasp for breath for moment, the shock
was SO strong.
Harry lay half undressed on the bed,
pale, apparently unconscious, with closed
eyes and yellow lips, slightly opened. He
drew in his breath with gasp. His left
hand clutched at his heart, and on his
shirt were great patches of dark red.
At the head of the bed stood cab
driver and beside him the janitor of the
building, who had opened the window.
The room was dimly lighted by single
lamp.
s'In heavens name, what has hap
pened?" cried.
From the reports l learned that the
coachman had been stopped in Fifth ave-
nue. about half an hour before and d.
rected to drive up to a certain house door.
There the gentleman now lying on the
bed had come out, accompanied by two
men. One had wished to get into the
carriage with him, but had been refused.
The gentleman had given the street and
number himself, but in a very weak
voice, and ordered him to drive as care
fully as possible. When he stopped and
opened the carriage door the gentleman
was in dead faint. He had aroused the
janitor and together they carried him up
stairs to his room, laid him in the bed and
removed some of his clothes.
$50 at once for doctor and I will
wait here, ~ said to them as soon as
learned these facts.
looked at Harry after they had gone,
and tears came to my eyes at sight of his
white, motionless face. I took his hand
in mine and began to stroke it gently.
After awhile he opened his eyes, and
looked at me in bewildermellt, then he
smiled and weakly pressed my hand. I
could not utter word. Harry tried
several times to speak, but only succeeded
after several Intellectual efforts; and then
l could scarcely distinguish the words:
Everything is all right have fixed
it." He closed his eyes; but after mo-
ment gasped:
s'My coatp'
/ handed it to him. He tried to put
his hands into the pockets, but his strength
gave out and he shook his head and smiled
again family. / searched the pockets and
took out several articles, among them a
small folding leather card case. He took
this up as l laid it on the bed near his
hand and reached it toward me.
''For you'll" he murmured.
AS / took it he smiled the same old,
hearty, tender smile.
As spread his coat out on a chair
yellow rose fell from buttonhole. /
picked it up, little startled, as / knew
Harry had not worn any flower the pre-
vious evening. When Harry noticed the
rose, he motioned me to give it to him.
He pressed it to his lips, and two great
tear drops rolled down his cheeks. His
arm fell down and he again sank into q
half unconscious state. His face twitched
as if with pain. His left hand lay across
his heart, and the fingers opened and
closed convulsively. Pretty soon he opened
his eyes again and stared with look of
followed his glance. g
Bring that" he said, with an effort
went to the spot indicated. There,
upon a little table, lay board of mod
crate size, in the middle of which was a
slight elevation, covered with damp
oth-apparently an incomplete piece of
modelling. Beside it lay few simple
modelling tools.
/ carried the board to the bedside.
'EDo you mean this?'' asked.
Harry nodded. He tried to raise HIM
self and lifted him up to sitting posi-
zion. After had done this he rested his
right hand, in which he still held the
rose, upon the cloth, and exerting all his
strength, pressed his fist down into the
yielding clay. watched the soft earth
slowly creep out from beneath the cloth
edges under the pressure. As Harry no
ticed this he gave one strong push and
then fell back on the pillow. He did not
open his eyes again, nor did he speak.
He drew few deep struggling gasps
and then all was still.
I sat some minutes staring at his pallid
face and hardly dared to breathe.
I gave great sigh of relief when the
sound of footsteps on the stairs broke the
spell by which seemed bound. Iopened
the door in answer to light rap.
81 am DIR. Van Horn" said an elderly
man, as he entered the room and walked
briskly up to the bed. With quick, dex-
ferrous movements he cut away Harry's
shirt and laid his hand upon his breast.
Then he beckoned to me to help him and
we laid the body of my dead friend down
from the sitting position.
81 have nothing to do but to certify to
the death of this person." said the doctor
after he had arranged everything.
did he say anythings"
''Only few words. -
SIS suicide probable?''
"No."
Probably a duel! What do you
think?' +a8 ~
.'That is possible. F"
| The. doctor seated himself at table,
took out paper and pencil and wrote
name, age, etc., of my dead friend.
| Then he wrote further: cause of
death paralysis of heart in consequence
of a stab or thrust. Suicide not probable.
More likely duel. Opponent unknown
Then he left the room. / held the
lamp to light him down stairs, he thanked
me courteously and babe me good night !"
went back into the room. The inn
pulss to speak to Harry, to awaken him
wac almost irresistible. could not be-
| hesc that the beautiful, attractive smile
had faded from his lips forever.
I took up the modelling board which
lay beside him ON the bed and removed
the cloth. / tried to make out what
shape the crushed mass had once had.
Harry had been entirely too weak to